Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.

Jinta Yadomi is peacefully living as a recluse, spending his days away from school and playing video games at home instead. One hot summer day, his childhood friend, Meiko "Menma" Honma, appears and pesters him to grant a forgotten wish. He pays her no mind, which annoys her, but he doesn't really care. After all, Menma already died years ago.

At first, Jinta thinks that he is merely hallucinating due to the summer heat, but he is later on convinced that what he sees truly is the ghost of Menma. Jinta and his group of childhood friends grew apart after her untimely death, but they are drawn together once more as they try to lay Menma's spirit to rest. Re-living their pain and guilt, will they be able to find the strength to help not only Menma move on—but themselves as well?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Honma, Meiko Main

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Yadomi, Jinta Main

Irino, Miyu Japanese

Anjou, Naruko Main

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Hisakawa, Tetsudou Main

Kondou, Takayuki Japanese

Tsurumi, Chiriko Main

Hayami, Saori Japanese

Matsuyuki, Atsumu Main

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Yadomi, Atsushi Supporting

Ogata, Mitsuru Japanese

Honma, Satoshi Supporting

Mizuhara, Kaoru Japanese

Yadomi, Touko Supporting

Ohara, Sayaka Japanese

Aki Supporting

Makino, Yui Japanese

Saitou, Shunsuke Producer

Ozaki, Noriko Producer

Nagai, Tatsuyuki Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Aketagawa, Jin Sound Director

Reviews

Feb 10, 2025

Rezwan1024

Recommended

Man, Anohana hit me right in the feels. This anime is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, and I’m not even mad about it—solid 10/10 for me.

The story revolves around a group of childhood friends who drifted apart after the tragic death of Menma, one of their own. Years later, her spirit appears to Jinta, the former leader of their group, setting off a journey of reconciliation, grief, and healing. And let me tell you, the way this anime handles loss and nostalgia? Absolutely gut-wrenching.

The characters are what make this anime shine. Each of them is dealing with their own guilt and regrets in ... such a raw and realistic way. Watching them slowly come to terms with their past while trying to grant Menma’s wish was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. And don’t even get me started on the final episode—if you didn’t cry, are you even human?

The animation and soundtrack are chef’s kiss. "Secret Base " playing at the right moments? Instant waterworks. The visuals perfectly capture the nostalgic summer vibes, making everything feel even more personal and bittersweet.

Honestly, Anohana is a masterpiece when it comes to emotional storytelling. It doesn’t just make you cry for the sake of it—it makes you feel. If you haven’t watched it yet, prepare for an emotional beatdown.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Rezwan1024 (23)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Apr 13, 2025

Spzct

Mixed Feelings

Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day)

The animation is clean and serviceable, with soft colors that match the nostalgic and emotional tone. While it doesn't stand out for visual innovation, it effectively conveys the characters' emotions and supports the story. There are a few beautifully framed shots, but overall, it's more functional than artistic.

Story – 7/10
The premise is strong—a group of childhood friends reuniting due to the ghost of a deceased friend—but the execution can feel uneven. The pacing drags in parts, and some emotional beats feel slightly forced or repetitive. However, the ... central mystery and emotional conflict provide a solid narrative arc that resonates with many viewers.

Characters – 6/10
The characters are central to the story, but their development is mixed. Some undergo meaningful growth, while others remain stuck in stereotypes. Their emotional struggles feel real but are sometimes exaggerated for drama. Menma is a lovable presence, but other characters like Jinta and Anaru may feel underwhelming or frustrating depending on the viewer’s perspective.

Music & Sound Design – 4/10
While the ending song “Secret Base” is iconic, the rest of the soundtrack is largely forgettable. The background music doesn't consistently elevate scenes, and at times, emotional moments lack sonic support. Sound design is adequate but not immersive.

Emotion & Impact – 6/10
Anohana aims to be a tearjerker, and while some moments hit hard, others feel overly manipulative. The final episode delivers emotional closure for some, but if you’re not fully invested in the characters, the impact can fall flat. It tugs on heartstrings, but not always effectively.

Worldbuilding – 6/10
The setting—a quiet rural town—acts as a nostalgic backdrop rather than a deeply developed world. While not expansive, it serves its purpose and enhances the themes of memory, loss, and growing up. The supernatural element is kept subtle and symbolic rather than detailed.

Entertainment – 7/10
Despite some slower parts, the show maintains viewer interest through mystery and interpersonal tension. It balances slice-of-life drama with emotional suspense, making it a compelling short series for those into character-driven stories.

Innovation – 7/10
At the time of its release, Anohana stood out for its blend of supernatural and emotional realism. It helped pioneer the modern “feels trip” anime genre. Though it’s now been followed by many similar series, it was one of the earlier emotional ensemble dramas with a ghostly twist.

Rewatch Value – No
Due to its emotionally heavy nature and lack of deep rewatchable layers, most viewers won’t feel compelled to revisit it. Once the emotional climax is experienced, much of the intrigue is gone.

Overall Score – 6.1/10
Anohana is a heartfelt but somewhat uneven emotional drama. While it delivers memorable moments and a unique concept, its execution and character work might not land for everyone. A good watch if you're seeking a sentimental journey, but its impact depends heavily on personal resonance with the themes of loss and friendship.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Spzct (21)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Aug 9, 2024

ShattenKaramu08

Not Recommended

Funny

Everyone has a lot of shows they hate, but , there has to be 1 show which you hate but everyone loves.
For me, that show is Anohana.


In a nutshell, this series is a mess, a story filled with plot holes and inconsistent, unlikeable characters that only succeeded in capitivating its audience by triggering their emotions.

[Contains Some Spoilers Below To Explain Plot Holes]

The story starts off slow with the MC having problems seeing the ghost of Menma who was in a friend group with a cringe name and died due to an accident. It happening when they were children makes this whole thing way more meaningless ... than it seems. Due to this and uninteresting characters, I struggled with it at first.

At first, no one takes MC seriosuly, in the middle, the MC gradually gets everyone to trust him. Wait a minute, Why doesn't the MC just let Menma write? Apparently, only Poppo thinks of it, but no one cares for some reason. Slowly and Slowly, I liked this show and ignored the plot hole.

Then Ep 8 came, the worst episode I have ever watched.

Something happened which hinders the group from fulfilling Menma's wish. The problem is, the characters discard their will immediately and doubt. In the end, they gang on MC. You have been building up the trust for 7 eps to assassinate all characters in a single ep? That was not even the worst part. Menma then finally uses an object prove her existence. You talked about it back in ep 4 or 5 sth. This is a solution everyone can think about!!! When that moment aired. My mind was in awe.

The absurdity doesn't stop. In the finale, the plan didn't work. Then all characters suddenly have the will to apologize because they realize they helped Menma for their own sake due to a love triangle. Wait a minute, last time something like this happened, you all doubted the MC, why so nice this time? Another problem is a large part of that is developed after ep 8. Making the whole thing seemed rushed. Then they even have a poor poor comedic timing that makes Your Lie in April look like Assassination Classroom in terms of balance between serious/comedy (YLIA is also not a good show, but nowhere as bad as this .) But the audience won't care, as they all cried following the characters. Because they are emotional and lose their brains once there is something emotional going on. This is how this show gets away with everything, forcing the audience to cry so they wouldn't notice the horrid plot. In my mind, I only thought that the motovations and outbursts are all ridiculous (besides Hisakawa.)

Then guess what? Menma suddenly realizes her wish for Jintan's mother has been fulfilled, which doesn't make any sense again. First, she doesn't even fulfill MC's wish at that moment. Second, Menma realizes the wish after looking at the shrine she had been exposed to every single day. How she didn't realize it sooner?

Great, as the ending is so touching, no one is gonna realize this whole thing makes 0 sense.

Yes, this anime has a 8.3 rating on MAL. It has a higher rating than Hell's Paradise, Boku yabai S1, Assassination Classroom S1 and Gosick. Speaking of Gosick, these 2 shows have the same script writer...
What is going on. How can the same person write one of best anime and the worst anime of all time in a single year?

8.3? More like the average IQ of characters.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by ShattenKaramu08 (2)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Less Than 12 Episodes

by Gino99

50 Entries · 190 Restacks

One Season Anime Originals

by Shy7161

39 Entries · 9 Restacks

Romance Anime that define the genre

by Beanos99

50 Entries · 312 Restacks

North American Anime & Manga Releases for October

Here are the North American anime & manga releases for October Week 1: October 3 - 9 Anime Releases Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Mirai-hen Comp...read more

Oct 2, 2017 12:07 PM by Sakana-san | Discuss (6 comments)

NHK Announces Best 100 Anime

To commemorate one hundred years of Japanese anime history, NHK has announced a list of 100 Best Anime on Wednesday at NHK BS Premium. The list is based on the audi...read more

May 3, 2017 7:07 AM by tsubasalover | Discuss (547 comments)

	Poll: AnoHana - favourite characters tsubagakure - Sep 18, 2024	39 replies	by Zarutaku »» 4 hours ago
	Poll: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) notnishiura - Apr 21, 2011	362 replies	by joelius__0 »» Apr 13, 11:41 AM
	Poll: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) tsubasalover - Apr 14, 2011	440 replies	by joelius__0 »» Apr 13, 7:52 AM
	Poll: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Episode 11 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) tsubasalover - Jun 23, 2011	1,252 replies	by 3n16mma »» Apr 11, 3:56 PM
	Poll: Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) tsubasalover - May 19, 2011	221 replies	by AuntyFifi_lala »» Mar 27, 6:27 AM

In Numbers: The Best Anime of the Decade

What's the #1 anime of the 2010s? Which year was the best? What studio had the most hits? We have the answers to all these questions and more!

by Shymander

658,144 views

Prominent Singers and Voice Actors Gather at Animelo Summer Live 2019

We've got all the details and lots of photos to share from the world's largest anisong event!

by MAL_editing_team

29,036 views